Railway block signal



(No Model.) 3 SheeLs-Sheet 1.

J. K. KNIGHT. f

RAILWAY BLOCK SIGNAL.

' No. 291,360. Patented JAA. 1, 1884.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

RAILWAY BLOCK SIGNAL 'Patented Jan. 1, 1884.

.MES

(N o Model.)

. Sheets-Sheet J. K. KNIGHT. f

Am. O0, OO 1|. 111 L ,nw J d e nNua un 0. 6 3 1| 9` 2 0. N

wf my, nm n. @may nation, with the operatingmechanism for the c UNrTnn `STATES Armar y @Erica JOHN 1;; KNIGHT, or New YORK, N. Y., AssiGNoR To WILLIAM BAKER.

RAILWAY BLOCK SIGNAL..

` SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,360, dated January l, 1884,

` Application filed July 24, l1882. No model.:

.To @ZZ who/1t t 11mg/ concern.-

Be itknownthat I, JOHN K. KNIGHT, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of- New` York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new i and .useful Improvements in Railway Block Signals, of which the following is a specification.

' l The object of my invention is, iirst, to sim- .plify and improve the construction of electro magnetically controlled locking devices employed in electric signal, draw-bridge, or switch apparatus for railways; and to this end my in` vention consists `in the combination, withthe lever, operating-rod, or other portion of the operating mechanism for the semaphore disk` or indicator, or for the switch or bridge lock,` of a catch provided with a suitable retracting- -spring or other device exerting a constant force, which tends to withdraw it` from en-` gagement with the operating mechanism, and

be, so as to withdraw the armature or allow Vit to be withdrawn out of rangeof the catch, Aand thus allow the retracting device ofthe catch toact. c

f My invention further consists in the combisignal, switch, `bridge-lock, or other device,

of a device connected to and moving with such fmechanism, and arranged to engage with the catch and throw it into position, where it will` lock said operating mechanism and will itself V,loe detained by the armature of the electro-I magnet. l

My invention further relates to block sig- :nals wherein the line of a railway is divided -into sections, at each end of which are suit- 'able signals for indicating to an approaching train the condition of the next ensuing section; and the object of my invention is to pro- .vide a simple and effective combination of devices whereby it shall be impossible `for the operator at ouestation to give the signal of line clearito a train approaching a station `without the concurrence ofthe operator at the distant 'endet the section `which the train is approaching. l Ai'urther object istofso arrange the apparatus that the operators may communicate with one another over the same wire by which their signals are unlocked.

My invention consists in a-:novel combination of hand-operated semaphores provided. -with automatic locking devices, electromagnets for releasing the same, switches controlling electric batteries, and signaling keys and bells arranged at the. stations of a block signal system for railways in the manner hereinafone station, biased so as to stand normallylat danger, a lock for holding it in danger position, an electro-magnet for releasing 'said' lock, and two switches or keys controlling the `ter set forth, so that the operation of the syscombination of a handbperated semaphore at circuit of said electro-magnet-one at the home station with said electro-magnet and the other at the neXt station in advance.

My invention consists, further, inV certain specific combinations of apparatus that will b detailed in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of my improved locking devices. Fig. 2 is a detail view. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing my improved block signal system and the application thereto of t-he improved locking. devices shown in Fig. l. l

Referring to Fig. l, B indicates the connecting-rod by which the semaphoresigual, Vthe railroad-switch, or the draw-bridge lock is operated, and B a collar or projection there-` upon, with which a lockinglcatch, A, may en'- gage, said catch A consisting, by preference, of a pivoted lever, as shown, provided with a -retracting-spring, D, which constantly tends to disengage it from the rod B, so as to lallow.

the latter to be operated. ,l

C indicates an electro-magnet, the circuit of `which is controlled by any of themeans'orin -any of the ways known to the art for the pur'- pose of releasing the signal` orswitch operatingmechanism. rlhe armature C'` of this electro-magnet is provided with the usual retractfor, and is here shown as arranged to drop -into the path of the catch A, so as to prevent itsdisengagement, so long as the electro-"magi, net C is not energized. When the armatL'u-"eV IOO is attracted, however, it is carried out of range, of the catch A, and the retractor D thereupon withdraws the catch A, carrying it back beneath the armature G and against a stop, C, thus freeing the rod B or other operating mechanism, so that the latter may be operated, either by hand or otherwise, to set or unset the signal, operate the switch, or lock or unlock the draw-bridge.

It is obvious that the electro-magnet C and its armature might be so arranged as to lock the catch when the armature is energized and to unlock it when the armature falls away.

In order that the catch A may be restored to a locking position beneath the collar B', and where the armature may drop down behind andlock it, an arm, B, attached to the rod B, is provided, which arm carriesa laterally-projecting pin, BW, Fig. 2, arranged to pass behind an inclined spring, A, or other .suitable projection upon the catch A, when vtherodB returns to its normal position, so as toforce the catch in toward the rod and bcneatlrthe projection B.

. D', indicates an electrical contact-spring, .which bears against the collar B when the signal-operating mechanism is in a locked position, andthus completes a break in the circuit of,l a circuit-closer, or of an electro-magnet `used vfor locking or unlocking another signaling` or: switch-operating mechanism for operating a semaphore or other signal, or for any of the usual purposes of electric -railway signaling. One of the special uses of such contact-spring will be described in connection with Fig. 3. n,

In the special application of the locking devices to be presently described, the rod B is connected with a biased semaphore-arm, biased to show danger when the rod is in the position shown in the drawings and locked. VVihen the magnet C is energized, the catch A isretract'ed by its spring, and the rod B may bernovedin the direction of the arrow by a connect-ion with a suitable manually-operated lever until the semaphore is thrownl to .safety, the arm B and its operating-pin being in this operation carried below thespring A, so that when the semaphore is released andthe Vrod B is carried back the pin passes .beh-ind the spring, and the locking partsarek thus restored-to their lirst position. It is obviously within the scope otv the invention to apply the lock to other moving por- ;tionsof the signal, switch, or bridge-lock operating devices, and to also vary the4 form 'and 'y disposition of the movable catch A.

A My lock possesses the merit of simplicity, Aand is also valuable because the armature can- Anotlbe subjected to any strain from the switch I orsignal-operating mechanism, its duty being .conned to preventing the movementpof the tcatch-under thestressof a suitably-adjusted retracting spring, wei ght, or oth er-dev-ice act- .ing .with aconstant and determinate forcesufcient-onlyto withdraw the catch. l s

In Fig. 3 is illustrated the application of ,my invention to a block system for a doubletrack road,V two of the stations of the block system being shown. For convenience, we shall call the track upon which trains movein the direction of the arrow l the nptrack77 and that upon which trains move in the direction of the arrow 2 the downtrack.

E and F are the two stations at opposite ends of a section ofthe line of road, each oi' which is provided with means 'for operating a. semaphore for the uptrack and a semaphore forthe downtrack, the uptrack-semaphore at F and the downtrack-semaphore at E guarding the section of track between the stations.

The semaphores consist of the ordinary biased arm, arranged to swing across the track and indicate danger, and to be drawn-down to indicate safety by means of hand-operated levers a a., connected through rods Bv with the semaphores, a suitable counter-bal ance or biasing weight being provided, which will tend to hold the seniaphores normally at danger, and will immediately restore them to danger when the operating-lever is released after having been used to-move them to safety .to give l the signal of line clear to an approaching train.

M M indicate casings containing the mechanism for controlling the semaphores for the uptrack, and N N those for the downtrack semaphores. Signal-bells b b and signalingkeys lc lc are used at each station for communicating with the adjoining stations, those on the left of each station being used for signal- IOO ing to the station to the left and those on theV Y right for signaling tothe station to the right. The two bell electro-magnets at each station are polarized oppositely from the releasing electro-magnets C C, which, 'in the present arrangement, are also polarized, andare connectcd tothe back contact-stops of the signaling-keys k, the front contact-stops of which latter are connected with section M B of a main battery, so that when the key is depressed Athe bell is c ut off and the battery M B placed tol the line, either to the right or to the left' of the station, according to which key is operated. The section M B of battery at each station is used to release the locking devices, so'as to allow asemaphore to be set to sa-Fety, as-will presently more clearly appear.

Referringto the up-signal apparatus, M. K2 indicates a push-button or battery-key con trolling a switch-spring, which, in itsnormal position, closes the circuit from the line leading from station atthe rear to the 'signalingkey kat the` left of the station, and when operated by the push-buttons cuts ott' thekey and through springD, bearing upon the semaphore-connecting rod B, connects the-.section M B of battery to line with a polarity the opposi'te of M B, so that ii' thev releasing-key!! at the rear station be simultaneously operated thereleasng-magnet C at the latter will be IIO energized, and the semaphore may beA set to safety Push-button or key 7c at each staleading to the` station ahead directly to the re1-` .leasing-magneaso, that it' the battery-hey k2 at that station be operated ,at the saine time signaling to station to the left.

the semaphore mechanism is released. When `the spring i'orpush-button laf is at rest,l it completes thecircuit between the line-to the stathe partsall beingat rest and occupying the i the` releasinglkey or switch kf 4semaphore,'a contact-stop against which said normal position shown, with the semaphores 'at fdangerz `At station` F the line-circuit connecting'E and F is through the spring ot' for the up-line spring normally rests, ,the spring of batterykey o rpush-button d* in the down-line semaphore apparatus N, a contact-stop against which said spring normally rests, and thence to the key ci'or signaling to the lett, back stop therefor, and polarized bell b.: At `station E theline-circuit is `through the releasing-switch" orkey dl'or down-line semaphore, and its normal contact-stop, thence through a connecting-wire to the springI of the battery key or switch c'ifor the Lip-line semaphore, its normal contact-stop,` key lc for signaling to the right,` back contact-stop therefor, and corresponding polarized bell, b. At E t-heline from station tothe left passes through the releasing switch or key `fer the uptrack, in thesame manner thatthe connecting-line l5 passes to earth at F, while at F the line-section leading tothe rightpasses to earth at F tliroughthe releasing switch or key for the downtracksemaphore and the battery-switch for theup- H track-semaphore, in the saine manner that con,-`

necting-line l5 passesto earth at E.

Let` it besupposed that the operator at F desires toset the uptrack-semaphore to safety77 to allow the passage of atrain onto the section ot'track between l1) and F. To enablehim to dothis,` the magnet Coi' M at station F must he` energized, and for this purpose both the nnsetting or releasing switch k athis own stationiand `the battery-switch k? atthe next `station E in advance must` be simultaneously operated. By operating key 7c at the left of F and `key 7c at theright ot' E, `the two operators may communicate with one another; but

lthe operator at Fcannot unset his signal until the operator at Eallows him to do so by actuating battery-switch k2, and cannot even then dosowunless `operator at E has reset his signal to "danger,7`7 so as to protect any train that `may have passed onto the section beyond, for

thereason that while the signal at E is unset, Grat fSefti/ the Circuit from the battery M B wat E is broken at the spring D. The currents sent the operator at Ein the act of signaling to F by his key if; cannot act to unlock the semaphore at F, although the operator at F might simultaneously actua-te his unsetting switch or key k', because the magnet C is polarized to` respond only to currents coming from battery M B, which latter iscontrolledyby; the battery-switch` 7a2. rlhe bell-magnet b F, being oppositely polarized, will, however, respond to the currents from M B sent` by the signaling-key 7a at E, as will also the bellmagnet b at Eto the battery M B at F, being polarized and properly connected for that purpose. The same operation takes,` place when operator at E desires to signal line clear7 to an approaching train on the downtrack.` Normally the downtrack-semaphore at Eis at danger,77 and islocked by the catch A, controlled by magnet (l. The catch can.

only release the semaphore when the magnet C is energized, and this can only be brought about by the concurrence of the two operators, the operator at F depressing his battery-key d2 at the same time that operator at E depresses his releasing-key d', so as to connect the magnet C'to the section 15 ot line. In this operation, as before, operator at Finannot connect battery M B to line unless he shall have iirst restored his semaphore mechanism, to its normal position, so` as to close the circuit at spring D of N, in which position the section of line to the right of F is blocked to trains on the downtr-ack, and remains blocked until the operator at station to right IOO of F allows the semaphore apparatus N at F V to be released.

By the above arrangement, not only can the line 15 between two stations be used for the purpose of communication by keys and bellsor sounders, but it also serves asthe connecting-wire for controlling the semaphore-oper-V ating mcchanism at the two stations. Not only can these operations be performed with- IIO out danger ofderangement or false action, but

by reason ot' the peculiar arrangement and connection ofthe devices the same line serves for controlling the semaphores ot' bcththe up and down tracks.

Ldo not limit myself to the construction or arrangement of keys and batteries.4 whereby currents of oppositepolarity may be caused to circulate for the purposes described. There are other and well-known arrangements and devices for this purpose that may be employed. In actual construction I propose to place the electro magnet (l in a local circuit controlled by a polarized relay connected in the samepon tion ot' the` general circuits as the electro-mag` net C in Fig. 3; Such an arrangement is indicated in Fig. 4, R being the polarized relay, and the other parts being indicated by the same letters as previously used. i f

Whilel have `shown my invention as employed in a system in which a normally-open circuit is used, it will be understood that the t same might, be 'empleyed with a ncrmallv- Y closedcircuit, the connections being-suitably made for that purpose and the relation of the partsfreversed. As this is a matter within the province of those well versed in the art, I

vhave not deemed it necessary to describe the 'same' in detail. A

While I have shown in my block system, Fig. 3, a. peculiar locking appliance, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, since the locking device is but one element of such system, andthe general character of the invention there shown would remain the same, although other mechanical devi ces might be employed for locking the mechanism by which `the semaphore is thrown and held at Safety- In Fig. 5 I have shown a device applied tol thelocking mechanism i'or the signal or other apparatus ior showing` to the operatorthe condition ot' such signal-that is, whether set to danger or sai'ety, or whether locked or unlocked. The device consists of an indicator attachedor connected to the armature of the locking and unlocking electro-magnet, so as to move with it, and to occupy one position when Athearmature is in position fortlocking the op- -erating mechanism and to occupy another position when said mechanism is unlocked. I prefer to use for this purpose a card moving behind an opening in the casing, which incloses thc locking mechanism, although it is ;ob vious that a pointer might be used'in its Locked appears at the opening 45, the word Unlocked being hidden. Vhen the arma- *ture is attracted, and the operating mechanism therefore unlocked, the word Unlocked Aupon the card is brought up into line with the opening.

Y. What I claim as my invention is" 1. ,The combination, with the operating-rod for a railroad-signal, switch, or draw-bridge lock, lot a pivoted locking-catch engaging with said rod, a retractor tending to withdraw said catch, and a detaining-armature engaging directly with the catch.

2." The combination, with a reciprocating operating-rod for a signal, switch, or drawbridge, of a locking-catch provided with a retractor and normally locking said rod from movement in one direction, a detaining-arma- 'ture arranged, when operated, to release the catch, and means upon said reciprocating rod for engaging with said catch upon a movement ofthe rod in the opposite direction, and mov- 'ing said catch into normal locking position with relation to the rod.

8. The combination, with a connecting-rod, B, for a signal or switch mechanism, ot' a color shoulder, B', a pivotedcatch for engaging with the same. a retractor constantly tending to disengagc the catch, and an armature, C, detaining the catch.

4. The combination of the connecting-rod '13, having collar or shoulder B, of a pivoted catch, A, and its retractor, a spring, A,

'mounted uponthe catch, and a pin or projection carried by the rod for engaging withthe spring Al and restoring the catch to a locking position.

5. The combination of rod and collar B B', swinging catch A and its retractor, detainingarmature'G, and mechanism upon the rod for engaging with the catch and restoring it to a locking position.

6. The combination'of a semaphorebiased to indicate "danger, mechanism for withdrawing the same against its biasing device, so as to cause it to indicate safety, a lock or catch for locking said mechanism against such move ment, an electro-magnet controlling the catch, two keys or vswitches in the same circuit with said electro-magnet, one at the home station and. the other at the next station in advance,

and at the latter station a circuit-closerin said controlled circuit, operated by the semaphore mechanism at said station, andu arranged to be closed only when said semaphore is at dangerJ 7. The combination, in a block signal apparatus, of a series of stations connected by a single line, semaphore mechanism at each station, an electro-magnet for controlling the same, polarized to respond to a current of one kind or polarity, a signal-bell or other receiv- Aing apparatus arranged to respond to currents of an opposite polarity or kind, and two manual si gnaling-keys and battery at each station, for sending currents of the proper polarity to operate the semaphore-magnet or the signalbell vat the next station.

8. The combination, in a block signal apparat-us, of a biased semaphore normally indicating dangen mechanism for operating the same to cause it to show safety, a catch for engaging-with said mechanism, a retractor applied to the catch for causing its disengagement, a restraining electromagneala switch for connecting said electro-magnet with the line running to the station in the rear, and at the latter station a key or switch and a bat-v tery, whereby the dctaining electromagnet at the station in advance may be operated only when both keys are actuated together.

9. The combination, in a block signaling system, of a biased semaphore normally indicating dangen an electro magnet and locking device for controlling the position of the same, said magnet being constructed to respond to currents of one kind or polarity, a signal-bell, at the same station constructed to respond to a current of the opposite kind or polarity', and two keys, one at the same station with the IIO semaphore-magnet and the other at the next station in advance, with circuit-connections, as described, whereby the closing of both keys is necessary in orderto complete the circuit of andenergize theseinaphore-Inagnet.

`10. Thecombinatlion, with two semaphore mechanisms at the `same station, .one for the "up and the other forlthe downtrack, `of a `re-` leasinmkev k forone mechanism and a bati D u 7 7 7 `tery keyfd, connectedfin theoircuit to one side of the station, a corresponding releasingky, d', andbattery-key connected inthe cir- `enit to the otherlside of thestation, 'said batl teryfkeys being snit-ably connected to batteries, so as to` send a current` of `one `kind or polarity, and signaling-keys-one in each circuitconnected so as to send a current of the opposite kind or polarity.

11.- Ihe combination of the biased semaphore, the operatingqod B, the circuit-closer D, battery M B, the key controlling the comV mon oirouit of D, and the battery-connections from the key to the station in the rear, and a tion. l

Signed at New York, in the county of' New Yorkand State of New York, this 22d day of J Lily, A. D. 1882.

JNO. K. KNIGHT.

Witnesses:

Trios. TooMEY, GEO. C. COFFIN.

releasing electro-magnet, C, at the` latter Sta- 

